Sewing machine



C. F. RUBEL SEWING MACHINE I April 27, 1948.

Filed Aug. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 K 51: :liilil ATTORNEY April 27,1948. c. F. RUBEL 2,440,615

SEWING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

p il 21, 1948. V p c. F. RUBEL 2,440,615

SEWING MACHINE Filed. Aug. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet s I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY c. F. RUBEL SEWING MACHINE April 27, 1948.

Filed Aug. 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

754 CM ATTORNEY April27,1948. c. F. RUBEL 2,440,615

SEWING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

I v A TJ'QENE' of the shaft 21.

3 with a gear 24 rotatable upon a stationary shaft 25 in the standard. Gear 24 meshes with a gear 26 secured to a shaft 21 which extends longitudinally of the base of the machine. At an intermediate point a gear 28 is secured to the shaft 21, this gear meshing with a gear 29 secured to a shaft 30 carrying at its outer free end the rotary component SI of a rotary hook. This hook may be of any suitable construction and, as illustrated, includes a stationary component 32 within, and in bearing engagement with, the rotary component. The gearing 28 and 29 is such as to impart two revolutions to the shaft 30 for each revolution of the shaft 21 which rotates at the same angular speed as the shaft [6.

Any suitable means may be provided for feeding the work in proper relation to the stitchforming devices comprising the needle 22 and the rotary hook. Such feed means may include a feed dog 33 adjustably mounted by means of a screw 34 on a feed bar 35, the opposite end of which is pivotally supported by a rocker member 36. This member is oscillated by means'of a pitman 31 connected with an eccentric (not shown) carried by the shaft 21 to impart the feeding and return movements to the feed dog. Lifting and lowering movements are imparted to the feed dog by means of an arm38 connected with the feed bar 35 and having attached to its outer, lower end a link 39 connected with an eccentric or crank pin (not shown) at the end For further details as to the construction and operation of the work feeding devices and also the stitch forming devices, reference may be had to the above-mentioned Christensen et al. patent or to the patent to Sauer et al., No. 2,035,508, granted March 31,

Cooperating with the feed dog in advancing the work along the work supporting surface is a presser foot 40 secured to the lower end of a presser bar M which is yieldingly urged downwardly by means of a spring 42 (Fig. III) acting between the lower end of an adjustable screwthreaded sleeve 43 and a surface on a block 44 secured to the presser bar. For the purpose of lifting the presser bar to release'the work, suit- .able devices are provided including a link 45 adapted to be operated by a foot treadle or the like (not shown). This link is connected with the end of a lever 66 pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine at the needle head. A spring 41 urges the lever in a clockwise direction '(Fig. III). A broad, fiat link 46 attached by a screw 49 to the inner end of the lever 46 has its lower end connected at 50 (Fig. VI) with an extension projecting laterally from the upper end of a sleeve 52 slidably mounted on the presser bar. Due to the action of spring 41, the sleeve 52 is normally held in the position indicated in Figs. III and VI with a clearance between the same and the bottom of block 44. When the lever 46 is operated, however, by the link 45, the sleeve 52 will be raised into engagement with the block 44 and will then lift the block and the presser bar against the action of spring'42. Both the presser bar and needle bar 2| are mounted for reciprocation in suitable bearings in the needle head at the outer end of the overhanging arm I3 of the main frame. Rotation of the presser bar and of the sleeve 52 is prevented by cooperation of laterally projecting portions 44a of the applied over a portion of the arm l3 and needle head It to enclose certain parts and produce a neater appearance. This cover member may be secured by a pair of screws 53a (Fig. III) and a nut 5317. (Fig. I.)

The needle thread 56 (Fig.1), derived from any suitable source, is passed through openings in a guide pin 55 carried by the nut 531) at the top of the main frame and then through openings in a guide 56 mounted on the side of the overhanging arm at or adjacent the needle head. From the guide 56 the thread is passed around a thread tensioning device indicated generally at 51, which will be hereinafter described in further detail. From the thread tensioning device the thread is led under a hooked portion 530i a thread guide having a long rod-like extension 59 inserted in an opening provided in an upwardly extending portion 60 of the block 44. This arrangement is such that as the presser foot is raised and lowered, .in response to variations in the thickness of the work, the guide 58 will be correspondingly raised and lowered and will either yield or take up extra thread as required for proper stitch formation. From the guide 58 the thread is led across the outer edge of a double-lobed cam member 61 (Fig. II) forming part of the thread take-up. The thread is then passed through an eyelet 62 into the interior of the take-up mechanism and thence over a slotted element 63 which projects laterally from the cam 6| and is carried through an orbital path upon rotation of the latter. From the take-up element 63 the thread is led downwardly to and through a fixed guide 64 and thenceto the eye of the needle, from which it extends to the work.

For the purpose of rotating the cam member 6| and carrying the element 63 through a circular, orbital path, the cam member is secured by means of screws 65 to a disc-like flange carried by the outer end of a shaft 66 journaled in suitable bearings provided in the needle head 14. At its inner end shaft 66 carries a gear 61 which meshes with a gear 68 secured to the shaft l6. Through these connections the shaft 66, and hence the cam member 6!, will be given one revolution for each revolution of the shaft I6.

The principle of operation of the take-up devices, including the cam. 6| and the slotted takeup element 63, is the same as for the corresponding parts of the take-up described in detail in my Patent No. 2,400,602, entitled Sewing machine and granted May 21, 1946, and as more fully set-forth in the Rubel et a1. Patent No. 2,398,667, entitled Sewing machine and granted April 16, 1946. For further details as to the take-up action of the device, reference may be had to the above-identified patents.

In the path of the needle thread between the eyelet 62 and the fixed guide 66 there is provided a stationary member 69 constituting a combined positioning and removing member. Referring particularly to Fig. V, the member 69 is provided with a relatively deep recess 10, the center line of which is substantially in line with the eyelet 62. In the normal operation of the take-up, the two sections of the slotted element 63 will, upon each cycle, pass at opposite sides of the member 69, which is curved to conform with the slot in the element 63, both being curved about the axis of the shaft 66. As the element 63 approaches and'passes through the lower portion of its cycle, the thread will be guided into the recess 10 by the surfaces 'H and 12 (Fig. V) of the member 569 andit will be pickedup from the bottom iof -therecesstby thei forwardtori leading edges-sot lthe elementtw :as th'e twowsections-cf the I later-pass ialon'g the ;op;po'site sides foil: the member fillraifd 'are carrie'dabover'this member. Should the needle threadzbecome broken: in the course-of a stitoh=iorming operation, and should it; ias a result; of tension; at the time of breakage on for: other reason become so engaged with the element -63 =as to be-in danger of becoming entangled therewith; oprovision I is-"made for removing'the -threa'd from-such element during-"the sameoycle in which it' has become so engaged and shifting it to a pcintlbeyond theend of 'the element. prevents the wastage -of' thread, which frequently occursin rotary: take-upmechanisms that 1 permit continuous :winding of the thread-about a-portion :of' the' take-up. Moreover; there ls not only: a -saving of thread but also a-=savi-ng-=oftime-since the -operatordoes not lose valuable-time i n the removal or wrapped thread. The automatic removal of :the improperly engaged thread is effected by the inclined-lower edge 13 =of themember 'dfl -IFigIV). It willbe apparent that if'the-thread has become improperlypositioned across-the leading edges-"of the two parts of the element F 63, as the latter approaches the member 69, the thread-so extending across the slitt ih the -elei heht fid-lwill -engage the edge F3 andwill be cammed by the latter toward thel le'it (Figs I-V and-"W to a point beyond the end of#the elernent $3. This removalzof the thread -=Wil1'-'t-ake-placeas oftenas ithe thread becomes: improperly engagedwith the element wand the --samecyole inw-hich it becomes so engaged,

:n -fea-tureof 'the invention inconnection with the foregoing, is that break-age of thethread in the-coursed?operationof the machinewill almost invariably occur at the'point-in contact with the edge of theca-m 6 hat thetime' of 'maximumtakeup action-,i-; ewas thestitch isbeing set. This 'is beroause the-usual-causes of breakagecommon to take-up mechanisms of the prior art have been eliminated by' the use of the cam which eliminates any--=excessive aslack in' the threadat all times.- l A's-a result :of this; there is only a short loose-end=-of* the -thread -which is: in danger of becoming entangled withmhe'element 63'and this loose end is connected with the' work-"rather than the source-'of thread supply. Accordingly,='the danger ofwrappi-ng: of the thread about-the element oe is reduced to a and, in any event; any thread which becomes improperly engaged with element -63-- willb'equicklyaremoved to -the: manner explained eabovet Fora-supporting the 1 member 1 69 i-ibetween the pathsedescribedrbyr the :two sections of :the: elementaiet; atnopposit'esides of thevslo't, the member is provided with a radiallyextending arm 14 securedwby la -screw 15 and dowel pins 16 to a plate file This platein i-additionrto its function as saesupport for the member 4 69, serves .also as al partial closure and guard. forthe take-up devices. .It is, securedito the frame of the machinelby means of an. overeturnedfiange portionl'B which is weldedor otherwise secured to a brack'etifi. The latter, Whichis' slotted to permit the cam member 6 l to extendtherethrough-has adower horizontal "extension-"8i! secured by a screw ill' to a plugBZ-mounted in-a boss-83 extending inwardly into the needle head frame and forming-aninteg-ral' par-t thereof. A similar boss in prior constructions has received and retained thread tensioning means; "SCIGWfi i-"iS provided to"retain="the plug in the boss; its upperend the bracket 19 is provided with a lateral extension isecured by a screw :86' to-a-bar 8liia:projecting forwardly- (Fig. III) from the-needle-head; The upper portion of the bracket is bentodt wardly gas shown; to" serveas a stripper for the threadzas it isrcarried by the cam i nemb'er-BL Spaced inward-lyaslight distancefrom'theclosure l? is a second partial closure 81 which covers and guards another part of the I pathof the take-up devices. Themember B'l'is secured by screws 88 to lugs: 89 projecting inwardly irom-la flange dfl connected witha plate at securedto the end ot the needle head.

The relationship between the various elemehts of the take-up and the enclosure for the same is such that threading of:the take-up may be very readily accomplished even though-the takeup is largely concealed. After passing the-"thread through the eyelet -GZ; the operator simply needs to carry the thread upwardly over theedge'o'tv the closure Ti and partlyaround the shaft and element' fi3. Regardless of the positione'of the element odythe thread may be properly positioned about this by a simple sweep-"of the hand around the peripheryof theclosurelbwiththe fingers of the operator, which grasp the thread, extending inwardly over the edge ofthe closure N; This sweeping moveme'ntof the-hand of-itne operator should be continueduntil the-thread is carried beyond the end 92 of the plate 'iB't and then bya slightinward'movement-the thread may be carried behind this projecting endof the plate 81- before the downwardly' extending portion of the thread is passed through the fixedguide 64.

Referring now to Figs. III and VII, the details of the thread tensioning means will be-descri-bedl This means comprises a main" supporting hub 93 which passes through an opening in the cover member 53 and has screw threaded-engagement with a bracket 9d which-is secured tothe need'le head frame by a screwhda (Fig; VI). A'sleeve -95 is mounted Within the hubs; and is retained in'fixed relation thereto'by'a set-screwed.- Sleeve 95 extends into nee'dlehead' It; o-neend terminating-therein as shown inFigureIII. Aroundthe sleeve 95, near its outer end, is carried apair of' thread clamping discs -o'l and 98 which are urged together by a, spring 99-act-ing at itsouter end against an adjustable thumb nut 1&0 threaded upon the end-of the sleeve 95*a-nd'bearing at its inner end against a washer l d! which is forced by'the spring against-thedisc 9B; The latter in turn is forced against the disc 91, which is thus urged against a shoulder at'the outer endof the hub do. Washer it! has'a diametrically extending cross-piece Hi2 whi'ch coforce it to the right (Fig. III).- Theopposite 4 end Hi4 of the rod will then engage the crosspiece I02 of the washer and shiftittoitherright to remove the pres'sure of the .springeflo :from the clamping discs 91 and odxflifhisiwillipermit the ;free movement of' the threadothrough .the

tensioning means. A check wire I06 is also ineluded in the 'tensioning device, this being constructed and arranged to operate in the manner set forth in the Christensen et al. Patent No. 2,394,365, entitled "Thread control mechanism for sewing machines and granted February 5, 1946. Referring now to Figs VIII, IX and X, a modified construction is shown. This form of the invention is simplified slightly by the omission of the plate 11 of the form described above. The parts of the modified construction which correspond with those of the first construction are designated by similar reference numerals with the subscript a. Thus, a thread tensioning device 'Ia is provided from which the thread is led to a guide 58a adapted to be raised and lowered with the presser foot in accordance with variations in the thickness of the work, thereby automatically varying the amount of thread supplied in accordance with the requirements. From the guide 58a the thread is led across the 8. bar having a thread carrying needle, a rotary take-up for the needle thread which comprises a slotted thread engaging element having a free end and mounted for orbital movement, and a member adapted to engage and position a portion of the needle thread during each complete revolution of said rotary take-up and arranged edge of the two-lobed cam 6Ia and is then passed Fig. X. This differs from member 69 primarily in the form of the portion by which it is attached to the supporting means. It has surfaces Ha, 12a and 13a which function in the same manner as the corresponding surfaces of member 69. Member 69a, however, is secured directly by means of a screw [50: and dowel pins (not shown) that extend through openings 16a to a front bracket and closure plate 19a, similar to bracket 19. Cam member 6la extends, at times, through a slot in the bracket 19a. The latter is secured to the frame of the machine by means of screws Ma and 85a passing through extensions 80a and 85a, respectively, the screw Bla cooperating with a plug 82a. projecting from the frame of the machine.

As indicated above, the take-up mechanism of this embodiment is not enclosed as fully as in the first form. Plate 11 is omitted from the end of the machine and a plate 87a, which corresponds in shape and function with plate 81, has been shifted tothe extreme outer end of the take-up housing extending from the needle head. It is held by screws 88a engaging in lugs 89a extending inwardly from a flange 90a forming part of the take-up housing, this being integral with or otherwise secured to a closure plate am for the needle head. In threading this take-up mechanism, it is simply necessary to pass the thread around the element 63a,after inserting it through the eyelet 62a, and then around the end 92a of the plate 81a to a position in back of this end. In all other respects the modified construction may suitably be identical with the first embodiment described above.

While a preferred form of the invention has been described in considerable detail and certain modifications have been suggested, it will be understood that numerous other changes may be made without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

i. In a sewing machine a reciprocatory needle to pass through the slot in said element in the course of its orbital movement, said member be ing constructed and arranged to force outwardly beyond the free end of said element any thread which may become improperly engaged with the same due to breakage;

2. In a sewing machine a reciprocatory needle bar having a thread carrying needle, a rotary take-up for the-needle thread which comprises a rotary member, a slotted thread engaging element having a free end, extending laterally from said member and carried through a circular path upon rotation thereof, and a thread positioning member arranged to pass through the slot in said element in the course of its orbital movement, said second mentioned member being constructed and arranged to force outwardly beyond the free end of said element any thread which may become improperly engaged with the same due to breakage.

3. In a sewing machine a reciprocatory needle bar having a thread carrying needle, a rotary take-up for the needle thread which comprises a rotary member, a slotted thread engaging element having a free end, extending laterally from said member and carried through a circular path upon rotation thereof, and a stationary thread positioning member disposed in spaced relation to the rotary member arranged to pass through the slot in said element in the course of its orbital movement, said second mentioned member having its edge which first enters said slot so inclined as to force outwardly beyond the free end of said element any thread which may be, come improperly engaged with the same due. to breakage.

4. In a sewing machine a. reciprocatory needle bar having a thread carrying needle, a rotary take-up for the needle thread which comprises a rotary member, a thread engaging element having a free outer end, projecting laterally from said member and carried through an orbital path upon rotation thereof, said element having a slot extending inwardly from its outer end, and a fixed thread positioning member in the path of said element arranged to traverse the slot therein during each revolution of the first member, said fixed member having its edge which first enters said slot so formed as to cam outwardly beyond the outer end of said element any thread which may become improperly engaged with the same due to breakage.

5. In a sewing machine a reciprocatory needle bar having a thread carrying needle, a rotary take-up for the needle thread which comprises a rotary member, thread engaging means having a freeouter end, projecting laterally from said member and carried through an orbital path upon rotation thereof, said means having radially spaced portions providing a passage therebetween from the outer end of said means, and a fixed threadv positioning member in the path of said means arranged to traverse said passage during each revolution of the first member, said fixed member having its edge which first enters said passage so formed as to cam outwardly beyond the outer end of said means any thread 9i: whiclnmayrbecome :improperlyrengased:with: the same due to breakage. M

6r; Ina: a; sewing: machine zacreciprocatoryrneedl barrhauingi-axthread rcarryingzneedlez-t a rotary-' ore-positioningethei thread ni heepat fisaidi memberrr.said last mentioned:rmeansebeingtdise posed. intermediate; the :pat. "described rbyrthe takeeupnfor therneedletthread which; comprises; 5;, ifurcated-z; portions; ofsaidt threadeengagingr:

aarotamember having: arlperipheralgsurfacer adapted o impart altakeeupyactionzto.theithreada. threadrengaging meansrhavingz'a free zoutergenda Droiectin alaterallyfrcmssaidi member andncar-s member: 111d? constructed andaarran edwtoe 00: operat wither said: threadeenga ine; memberr imtheseventtcf.ithreadtbreakage ..J-in:such;.@manner 'asato jcauseethezenduof ':a:-.=brolen-.ithreadi tot-be riedi through-ramorbital pathupomrotation theree l0? shifted 101111; of: thespathaof l-saiduthreadaengaginge of saidr meansr having: radially, :spacedjf portions; proyidingsaepassageitherebetweenziromztheeouterw 1111: ofisaid means, said: means; gconstiimting their: oniymortiomofysaidztakeiupi withmvhichathread:

member;

In-a sewingnnachine a reciprocatonyneedle bar :havingra;:threadxcarrying aneedlegztar rotary talteeuptroratheeneedleethread including rajlaterr:

isrlike yitdbecome entangled.;.unonxbreakage;vand; 5 ;ally projecting bifurcated thread-engagingxmeme azrfirxed threadpositioningmemberanother path or: saidemeans --ar ranged:ito ,traverse E: said-:Epassa r duringaeach rircvolutionzaofethe rfirstzamemb err said. ;J fixedzimember having: itsv edge; whiclrrv'lfirst 'entersi; said'rn 'ssagerso; formed; as to; cam outwardly bee yond the outeryendmfzysaidi meansganyswthreads; whichzxhasbccome im r per y en a ed with ,the samer=d11e to breakage.

7. In'ia: sewing; machine :a;.recip rocatory :needle bar: haying-1 aathread: carrying;- needle, a .rotary takeeuprafor, 'the :needle thread: which comprises airotaryzmember;threadengaging meanshaving a freej: outer end;. rprojectingz jlaterally. from said o member,- and: carriedethrouglran;orbital. path up? I onirotation thereof; said means :h'avingzrradially. a spaced; DOL'tiOIlSr providing; a J passage therebea tween from theouterzendgo "saidemeans, a;fixed thread positioning member Sin. ;ther path: of; said means :arranged :to. traverse; :said: passage during eaohhrevolutioni of; the: first :member, .saidsifixedars member having its edge which first entersasaidx passagersogformedias xtowcam outwardly beyond the outer end of said means any thread which may become improperly-engaged-with the same due tosbreakage; a partial closure spaced-slightly from said rotary member and parallel therewith, said closure enabling the free passage of the threadaround said thread engaging means in thel threading of the machine regardless of' therppsition-ofisaid means in its-cycle.

8:1: In ag sewing machine a reciprocatorygneedle banzhaving; a thread gcarryingz; needle, a; rotary takeaupfion-the needle thread-"which comprises a zrotary member, thread engaging rneans;having; aefree outer-end, projecting laterally fromgsaid member and carried through 1- am orbital i path: unonqrotation', thereof, said means-having;;;radi:

ally spaced portions..providingnatpassage therebetween from the outer end of said means, a

fixed thread positioning member in the path of said-ii means 3 arranged ,ltoirtraversersaid passage during each revolution of the first member, said fixed member having its edge which first enters said passage so formed as to cam outwardly beyond the outer end of said means any thread which may become improperly engaged with the same due to breakage, and a plurality of spaced partial closure members in front of said rotary member and parallel therewith, said closure members enabling the free passage of the thread around said thread engaging means in the threading of the machine regardless of the position of said means in its cycle.

9. In a sewing machine a reciprocatory needle bar having a thread carrying needle, a rotary take-up for the needle thread including a bifurcated thread-engaging member mounted for movement in an orbital path, means for imparting reciprocation to said needle bar and orbital movement to said thread-engaging mem- "berrmountednfon movement ind-a1 circularupath,

mean-safer; imparting ;:reciprocatiorr;totsaidi needle bar, and;irotaryymovementzqto:said threaldaengage ,ingrmemberrinqtimed relationship; and stations.

aryrrmeansiforrpositioningzthe thread drrthe apathy-1 of :saidamemberg said ilast mentioned :means bein'gzl disposed; intermediate therpaths describedebyrthebit-111138138611, portions; Of"; Saidji; tl'i leadiengaging-L member;andgconstructed: and-tarrangedlctoacoa perate zWith:said-.:threads en a in m m rimth 1 BVSXIJtTTOf' rthreadrbreakagel in. such V manner rats to cause theaendz; 'ofr. a;;broken.: thread to. be t shifted:

outzof'gthe path KOfiSdid thlieadeengagingsmemb'er;

11..; In: a: sewing; machine. at. reciprocatory m; needle ban havingea ithread-zcarrying needle; as

rotary: takeeuprfor -.the l needle 1 threadsiincluding agbifurcated Jthrea'deengagingsmember: mounted for movementlnian'.orbitarpatlrand.having leade ingrthrcadg engagingl edgeaimeans for; imparting:

35,;,recinrocation.tto; saidaineedler bani and-t orbitalmoyenrent :to; i said threadaengaging: memberrin: timed relation; .tandnstationaryemeansufor: -posi--' tioningrthe threadain th'etpath ofvsaid member,

saidixstationary :means; being disposed adjacent ;;thcspat11i2'described; by said; thread-engagingmembergr and arranged; ton pass 4 between: the threadien a ing edges of :said membenesaid-"stationaryrmeans ibeingrconstructedz;andiiarranged 1 tOifiOODBI'fi/tfi} Withtxsa-id ithrea'deengaging member inethe event =of 3thread5breakage-inrsuclr-manner as] ;to causetthe end .::of;:a:.brokenz threadiifto be shiftedriouti jof .zthe rpathrofssaidl threads-"engaging membem 12.111 .vaiesewingr machine; a reciprocatory' needle-2 bargh'avinga at thread carrying- "needle; a

rotarm take. -upsdevicez-fori said needle thread; a rotatable shaft isupportingc andactuating-- saidtakeeuprdevicel and imeans fo'rreeiprocating said needle banrandrotating:said shaftsimtimed relation, saidetake'eupxu device including a thread-'- manipulating: elementnhaving free end -spaced:

from and extending beyond the end of said shaft and having a plurality of radially spaced leading thread-engaging edges, means determining the point of normal initial engagement of said edges with said thread, and stationary means spaced from and arranged to pass between the threadengaging edges of said element and constructed and arranged to cooperate with said element during each revolution of said take-up device to remove thread abnormally engaged by said edges in advance of said point of normal initial engagement and shift the same to a point out of the path of said thread-engaging edges of said ele- 6 ment and beyond the free end of said element.

take-up device and means for reciprocating said needle bar and rotating said shaft in timed relation, said take-up device including a single thread-manipulating element spaced from and extending beyond the end of said shaft and having a plurality of radially spaced, leading, threadengaging edges, means determining the point of normal initial engagement of said edges With said thread, and means disposed between the paths described by said leading edges in the course of their rotation constructed and arranged to cooperate with said element to remove thread abnormally engaged by said edges in advance of said point of normal initial engagement and shift, the same to a point out of the path of said element.

14. In a sewing machine a reciprocatory needle bar having a thread-carrying needle, a

rotary take-up device for said needle thread, a rotatable shaft supporting and actuating said take-up device and means for reciprocating said needle bar and rotating said shaft in timed relation, said take-up device including a threadmanipulating element spaced from and extending beyond the end of said shaft and having a plurality of radially spaced, leading, threadengaging edges, means determining the point of normal initial engagement of said edges with said thread, and means constructed and arranged to be received in the space between said thread-engaging edges and to cooperate with said element during each revolution of the takeup device. to remove thread abnormally engaged by said edges in advance of said point of normal initial engagement and shift the same to a point out of the path of said element, said last-named means comprising a stationary element provided with an inclined thread-engaging face.

15. In a sewing machine having a work support, a needle bar having a thread carrying needle, a rotary hook cooperating with said needle in stitch formation, means for operating said needle bar and said hook, a rotary take-up for the needle thread comprising a cam member driven by said operating means, a presser bar carrying a presser foot, means for yieldingly urging said presser bar downwardly to engage said presser foot with the work, means for lifting said presser bar to disengage said presser foot from the work, a first thread guiding means disposed opposite one face of said cam member, a second thread guiding means disposed opposite the other face of said cam member, one of said guiding means being adjacent said cam member and normally engaging said needle thread in a substantially horizontal plane through the axis of said rotary take-up, and means connecting said last mentioned guiding means with said presser foot for movement in unison. V

16. In a sewing machine having a work support, a needle bar having a thread carrying needle, a rotary hook cooperating with said needle in stitch formation, means for operating said needle bar and said hook, a rotary take-up for the needle thread driven by said operating means, a presser bar carrying a presser'foot;

means for yieldingly urging said presser bar downwardly to engage said presser foot with the work, means for lifting said presser bar to disengage the foot from the work, thread tensioning means arranged to engage said needle thread at a point substantially in line horizontally with the axis of said take-up, a guide for said thread intermediate said tensioning means and said take-up, and means connected with said presser bar for shifting said guide and for releasing said tensioning means upon predetermined upward movement of said presser bar.

17. In a sewing machine, stitch forming means adapted to carry a thread, means for guiding thread along a path from a source of supply to said stitch forming means, a rotary take-up for said thread in said path, said take-up comprising an element having a free end and mounted for movement through a circular path, said element having a slot in the free end, and a fixed thread positioning member in the path of said element arranged to traverse said slot as said element is moved along its circular path, said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 434,037 Wheeler Aug. 12', 1890 705,240 Hemleb July 22, 1902 724,576 Heberling Apr. 7, 1903 1,460,177 Ringe et-al June 26, 1923 1,581,346 Hohmann Apr. 20, 1926 1,732,206 Ringe Oct. 15, 1929 2,191,736 Zonis Feb. 27, 1940 2,366,648 Parry Jan. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,172 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1908 

